Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a renewed call yesterday for his country and Caribbean Community countries (CARICOM) to sign a free trade agreement with mutual benefits for all parties.
The Canadian Prime Minister said that while there are concerns about proceeding with a free trade agreement at this time, with the impact of the global recession, Canada was committed to the principle of mutual benefit.
"There is no time like a crisis to seek out new opportunities, and Canada is committed to the principle that a new trade agreement between us must confer mutual benefits," he said addressing the Jamaican Houses of Parliament on April 20.
"The Canada-CARICOM free trade agreement will be a powerful expression of our collective will to keep borders open and pursue meaningful economic development, and it will build on the long history of trade between us," Harper declared.
He said that the time was right for the agreement, and Jamaica was uniquely positioned to lead the way to ensure that CARICOM is a full part of the hemispheric and global economic system.
"Canada's commitment is clear; we are providing financial support and technical assistance to ensure that our negotiating partners are on a level plain field. We are helping small- and medium-size businesses to develop the skills and technology they need to compete in our free trade future," Harper added.
"Let us resolve today to cut through the bureaucratic, diplomatic and political red tape and move forward on a Canada/CARICOM free trade agreement. Let's get it done.”Mr. Harper noted that at the Summit of the Americas, Canada had announced doubling its ‘callable capital subscription’ to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), to increase the bank's lending capacity by USD4bn.
Referring to the long and close relationship between both countries, he said that their cultural, social and economic bonds have reduced the distance between them. He stated that both countries have an obligation to do whatever they can to protect their citizens from the consequences of the current recession. He noted that the recent G20 meeting in London had achieved consensus on what needed to be done to overcome the crisis, and ensure it never happens again. Mr. Harper said that Canada has already taken unilateral action, during the recession, to reduce tariffs and wanted to ensure that its "traditional friends of the Caribbean" remain at the forefront of trading relations.
"Jamaicans have the character to excel at anything they put their minds to and, because of these cultural, social and economic bonds, the distance between us grows ever smaller and they represent a strong foundation to do even more together, a foundation to address the challenges and to seize the opportunities that lie before us today," Harper said.
Jamaican Prime Minister Golding, in welcoming Harper, noted that Jamaica has enjoyed formal diplomatic relations with Canada since 1962.
"Canada has remained a major trading partner for Jamaica ever since. When in 1966 we took the decision to establish our own national airline, we sought a partner and we found that partner in Air Canada, and they helped us to establish that airline on a sound footing," Mr. Golding recalled.
The Prime Minister said that Jamaica has enjoyed, with Canada, many bilateral assistance programmes, especially through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Canada has assisted in areas such as the Justice Reform Programme, development of new agricultural practices and national security.
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